Planning for the final finish on roofing and siding

If you are considering hiring a Chicago roofing and siding contractor, or doing the work yourself, you must account for the entire job – not just the installation. The final finish for roofing and siding is what will largely determine the lifespan of the material. You need to know a few ins and outs of the materials and types of finish before starting to ensure a good job.

What does the final finish look like?

The final finish on a roofing or siding project can vary greatly. For some types of siding, the final finish is trim and paint. For many types of roofs, it is just the cleanup and flashing. If you are installing a slate or terracotta roof, it may need to be sealed as well. The same may hold true for wood siding or shingles. If sealing and painting are in order, this can be a multi-day project that is dependent on the weather - temperature, humidity and sun exposure.

For some materials, the finish is the clean-up

Some of the nylon siding and many of the asphalt roofing types require only a cleanup for finishing. This doesn't simply mean a nail sweep, but can also include the final trim work and back filling. Many Chicago roofing company contractors will not do the final fill on the siding job; that is generally left to the landscaper or general contractor. If you reside in a home, they may even work around having to actually excavate. Make sure you know what the contractor's plans are first so you don't get left with a surprise trench to fill in later.

Making sure that painting and sealing is scheduled right

No matter what type of material you have selected to have your Chicago roofing and siding contractor install, it has to be painted or sealed. This is where a lot of jobs can go wrong. If you push a contractor to “wrap it up” you may wind up with material that will fail. If you are doing the work yourself, for successful application, you need to follow the directions closely and find out the climate adaptations to humidity and altitude unique to Chicago.

How much of the work should you do?

This is the real question for those who are on a tight budget. Many times, you can ask a Chicago roofing and siding contractor what work you can assume to lower your cost. They will most likely suggest the cleanup and staging - as the other aspects of the job are time consuming and technically demanding. For many types of siding, like fiber cement, you can do some of it yourself. Bear in mind what your insurance will cover before you start doing anything.

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Metal Roof Installation

While metal roofing can be slick, reflective, and fussy to install, the majority of metal roof projects aren’t as difficult as they may seem. Of course, metal roofing can be applied to any roof, but let’s focus on a very simple residential hipped roof.

•    All sides slope toward the ground. Two sides are triangular, while the other two sides are trapezoidal.

•    The standard residential home with metal roofing will generally have identical pitch or slope on all sides.


Must I Remove The Existing Roof?

•    Metal roofing can be installed over existing roofing, assuming the structure of the roof can sustain the weight. It adds a significant amount of weight and requires shoring of roof supports.

•    The most effective means to install a metal roof is to remove the old roof, structure new support, and begin again.

Begin at the Top

A practical tool now comes into play—the tape measure. Before you can order materials, you must know the length of needed coverage between eave and ridgepole, the piece of wood that runs from front to back and supports the rafters.

•    Picture the roof as a cross section in the shape of a triangle, longest side down. This is called a “truss,” and is also the “run distance.”

•    Now measure the leg of the triangle which runs from each end of the run distance to the ridgepole. This is the “rise distance.” In our case, the rise distance is the same on both sides.

•    From here,you can determine the square footage of your roof, and determine how much roofing material to order.

Adding to the Framework

Next comes the insulation layer. All roofs have moisture, therefore you want to block it from entering the sheathing.

The installation process begins at the edge. First, install edging around the entire roof overhang. This is done by nailing to the roof framework, and overhanging the edge of the gutter system.

Next, position the metal panels horizontally, square to the edge, and overhanging slightly. Once in place, secure the panels to the structure with washer-head screws (to keep out water) set a foot apart. It would be a good practice to snap a chalk line at each level to position the screws on the frame and create an attractive picture from the ground.

The Layout Process

Subsequent rows must overlap by at least an inch. In a particularly moist environment, silicone may be applied at the place of overlap; the pressure on the metal sheet will spread the silicone and create a seal.

Finally comes the flashing that covers the vertical joints. Where there is a ridge, that flashing can be bent to fit. Like the plates themselves, flashing pieces must overlap towards the bottom, for water flow.

On simple buildings where there is little concern for perfection, a DIY project is possible. For elaborate jobs with many joints, dormers, and varying roof styles, it is best to hire a metal roof installation.

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